Author: Badalian Vardan

LIBERATION DE RAGIP ZARAKOLU, CITOYEN D’HONNEUR DE VILLEURBANNE
Ara

armenews.com
jeudi 12 avril 2012

J’ai appris avec soulagement la liberation de l’editeur turc, Ragip
Zarakolu – citoyen d’honneur de Villeurbanne – qui etait incarcere
depuis le 1er novembre dernier a Istanbul. Accuse de terrorisme en
raison de son soutien aux causes kurde et armenienne, ce defenseur
des droits de l’homme avait deja ete condamne, en 2008, a cinq mois
de prison en vertu de l’article 301 du code penal qui punit tout
denigrement envers l’Etat turc.

A l’occasion du 50e anniversaire de la Declaration universelle des
droits de l’homme, j’avais parraine, en tant que parlementaire, Ragip
Zarakolu et Ayse, son epouse aujourd’hui decedee. Leur fils Deniz,
egalement militant, est actuellement prive de liberte. Je demeure
inquiet et vigilant a son egard comme a celui de son père qui, au
terme de son procès prevu le 2 juillet prochain, encourt plusieurs
annees de prison.

Jean-Paul Bret maire de Villeurbanne

LE MAIRE DE GUMRI PREVOIT LA CONSTRUCTION DE NOUVEAUX LOGEMENTS DANS LA VILLE

armenews.com
jeudi 12 avril 2012

Le maire de Gumri, Vartan Ghukasian, a predit mercredi 11 avril 2012
que le Parti republicain au pouvoir (HHK) va gagner les elections
legislatives dans la deuxième plus grande ville du pays et sa province
de Shirak en raison de la construction de logements a grande echelle
dans la zone ravagee par un seisme de 1988.

Selon les resultats officiels des dernières elections de 2007, le HHK a
remporte environ 30% des voix dans la province de Shirak. Ghukasian,
qui est gestionnaire de la campagne electorale du HHK de Shirak,
a declare qu’il s’en sortira mieux cette fois-ci. ” Je pense que le
parti republicain obtiendra plus de votes. Quand vous regardez ce
que le parti a fait pour la ville et la region, vous pouvez voir que
beaucoup de travail a ete fait “, a-t-il declare a RFE / RL dans une
interview . ” C’est un travail enorme. ”

Ghukasian se base sur la mise en ~uvre continue d’un programme
gouvernemental visant a achever la reconstruction prolongee des
regions nordiques de l’Armenie ravagees par la catastrophe de 1988.

5300 appartements et maisons devraient etre construits. Environ 3.000
nouveaux appartements a Gumri doivent etre destines d’ici a 2013 aux
personnes qui vivent encore dans des cabanes et dans d’autres logements
precaires. Plus de 1000 maisons ont ete inaugurees en juillet dernier
lors d’une ceremonie en presence de Serge Sarkissian.

Murad Grigorian, un chef de file regional du principal parti
d’opposition (HAK) a minimise les travaux de construction, affirmant
que le gouvernement n’a pas la possibilite de demander un credit car
il a ete finance par des prets etrangers. Il a declare que le HHK
devrait plutôt expliquer son incapacite a creer un nombre significatif
de nouveaux emplois dans une region qui a le taux de chômage le plus
eleve du pays.

” Les gens ici sont fatigues de leurs promesses “, a declare Grigorian
a RFE / RL. Ghukasian a promis a cet egard que plus de 2000 nouveaux
emplois seront bientôt crees a Gyumri. Deux usines de textile devraient
bientôt ouvrir.

En campagne electorale dans la region, Serge Sarkissian s’est adresse
aux habitants : ” vous devriez etre très prudents et vous devriez
vous mefier de toutes ces promesses qui vous sont faites “.

TURKEY STRONGER AS MILITARY COMES UNDER CIVILIAN CONTROL
by LALE KEMAL

Today’s Zaman
April 11 2012
Turkey

Turkey’s military used to be the main actor when decisions were made
on foreign policy matters. This perhaps explains why Turkey has not
been able to solve its disagreements with neighbors such as Armenia
or to resolve the Cyprus dispute in more than 40 years. The strong
influence of the military on Turkish foreign policy matters had long
hijacked Turkey, preventing it from using its soft power and, hence,
diplomacy as tools to settle its disputes, mainly with its neighbors.

In parallel to the reforms that have brought the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK), to a certain extent, under civilian democratic control, the
military’s unquestionable influence in designing foreign policy issues
has almost come to an end. This is not to say that the military’s
heavy weight in areas such as the fight against terrorism has not
continued, even if this has complicated the Turkish government’s
efforts to settle the Kurdish and terrorism problems through a greater
emphasis on non-military means.

Unlike speculations that the end of the military’s role as a main actor
in shaping foreign policy has been weakening Turkey in its handling of
critical external matters, in the words of retired Ambassador Ozden
Sanberk, Turkey has gotten stronger as its military has come under
greater civilian, democratic control.

In the meantime, civilian decision-makers are coordinating efforts
with the military over security matters related to foreign policy
issues, such as the escalation of violence in neighboring Syria.

Turkey has succeeded in emerging as a greater stabilizing force
in its region, utilizing more of its soft-power tools rather than
military strength alone. This has become possible because the civilian
government has established a good working relationship with its
military. An example is the Libyan crisis last year.

The popular uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East allowed the
Turkish military to showcase its capability of supporting government
efforts with the evacuation of 30,000 Turkish citizens in February
last year who had been stranded in Libya due to the uprising.

The evacuation involved the use of Turkish frigates as well as Lockheed
Martin F-16 fighters, Boeing KC-135R tanker aircraft and Transall
C-160 transport aircraft in what Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
described as “a fully integrated operation.”

To this end, the TSK has been improving its international profile by
taking part in peacekeeping operations. For example, the TSK assumed
command of the Regional Command Capital of the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan several times.

Turkish troops, however, do not engage in combat operations. Though
it seeks to improve its international profile through its military,
Turkey refrains from pursuing militarist policies when dealing with
international crises, such as the popular uprisings in the Middle East.

Similarly, despite concerns that Turkey may take a unilateral military
action in neighboring Syria, it is not expected that Ankara will get
engaged in any such adventurous policy in this country. This is despite
the fact that Syrian regime forces were engaged in a provocative action
last Tuesday when they opened fire across the border into Turkey.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Syria of infringing
on its border and said his country is considering what steps it will
take in response, including measures “we don’t want to think about.”

Erdogan’s remarks, however, should be interpreted as pressure intended
against Syria’s Assad regime to force it to abide by a peace plan
presented by international envoy Kofi Annan rather than as a signal
Ankara may intervene militarily in the country.

It is no coincidence that President Abdullah Gul, who is also the
commander in chief of the armed forces during peacetime, delivered
a speech on April 6 to the officers of the War Academies Command
in Ä°stanbul during which he emphasized the virtues of a democracy
in which the military also plays a productive role. His emphasis on
the TSK now being one of the fundamental pillars of Turkey’s foreign
policy is a clear message that the military’s role in security-related
issues cannot be denied, provided that it acts under the orders of
democratically elected governments.

PACE DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ARMENIA TO MONITOR PARLIAMENTARY CAMPAIGN

Vestnik Kavkaza
April 11 2012
Russia

A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) has arrived in Armenia to monitor the electoral campaign for
May 6 parliamentary polls, News Armenia reports.

A reports will be made on April 12.

8 parties and a bloc will take part in the elections. This includes the
Republican Party, Prosperous Armenia, Orinats Yerkir, Dashnaktsutyun,
Heritage (together with Free Democrats), Armenian National Congress
(bloc), Democratic Party, Communist Party and United Armenians.

The campaign started on April 8 and will end on May 4.

DEBKA: ISSUE OF ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVANCED RUSSIAN RADAR STATION IN ARMENIAN MOUNTAINS AGREED ON

arminfo
Wednesday, April 11, 16:34

Yerevan and Moscow have agreed on the establishment of an advanced
Russian radar station in the Armenian mountains to counter the US
radar set up at NATO base in Injirlik, Turkey.

Referring to its military sources, the Israeli website Debka.com
reports that Russia sent its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last week
on a round trip to the capitals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan – an expedition designed to secure Iran
against a potential US/Israeli attack via its northern and eastern
neighbors. In Yerevan, the Russian minister finalized a deal for the
establishment of an advanced Russian radar station in the Armenian
mountains, Debka reports.

Just as the Turkish station (notwithstanding Ankara’s denials) will
trade data on incoming Iranian missiles with the US station in the
Israeli Negev, the Russian station in Armenia will share input with
Tehran, the source reports.

Earlier Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said in an interview
with Kommersant newspaper that Yerevan may approve construction of the
Russian radio radar station in its territory if Moscow and Baku fail
to agree on the lease terms of the Gabala Radio Radar Station. In
addition, the premier said that in the highly mountainous country
the radar station may cover a broader area.

KIM KARDASHIAN: YOU CAN’T SUE ME… I’M A HAIRY ARMENIAN!

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 11, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS: Kim Kardashian is seeking refuge in
her hairy Armenian heritage — asking a court to excuse her from a
nasty beauty product lawsuit … because she never lied about her
fur-removal practices, Armenpress reports citing TMZ.

Kim just filed new docs in her ongoing legal battle with a beauty
company called Radiant — which sued her last November, claiming
she’s endorsing a competitor’s hair removal product … by making
false claims.

According to Radiant’s lawsuit, Kim falsely claimed TRIA — a home
laser hair-removal system — works all over your body … and yields
permanent results. (Radiant says it does neither).

Radiant is pissed, claiming Kim’s misleading TRIA endorsement has
put their hair-removal product — called no!no! hair — at an unfair
disadvantage.

But Kim insists … everything she ever said about TRIA — including
how she uses it all over her body — reflected her honest opinions
and experiences.

As Kim said under oath, “Being Armenian and hairy, I thought [TRIA]
was the perfect product.”

Kim is now asking to be dismissed from the lawsuit.

V.SAFARYAN: COMMUNISTS HAVE A WORD TO SAY IN PARLIAMENT

Panorama.am
11/04/2012

“Taking into consideration that we participate in parliamentary
elections for the first time we get ready with great responsibility
for them, and we have something new to tell the people,” said Ashot
Yeranosyan, representative of “United Armenians” party, during the
debate organized by “Civilitas” Foundation. He mentioned that they will
have meetings in regions though they know their electorate quite well.

Vazgen Safaryan who is included in the proportional list of the
Communist Party said that they have decided to take part in the
elections, given the current situation – realizing the moment and
feeling responsible before the people. “The ideological fight is
insufficient in the parliament today and the communists have something
to tell there. We have a word to say and to pass our current ideas
to the people,” he said.

TENS OF ARMENIAN NGOS TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONDUCT OF DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS
Alisa Gevorgyan

“Radiolur”
11.04.2012 17:02

The Partnership for Open Society presented the list of the programs
financed or co-financed by international donor organizations, which
are targeted at contributing to the conduct of democratic elections
in Armenia.

According to Larisa Minasyan, Executive Director of the Partnership
for Open Society, the program provides an opportunity to reveal the
potential existing in the sphere and opens perspectives for future
cooperation between the participating organizations.

In the pre-election period tens of Armenian NGOs will implement
different programs with application of different mechanisms, which
will, however, serve a single objective of holding democratic elections
in the country.

Thus, the Transparency International anti-Corruption center will
implement the “Election postmen” program, which aims at raising the
interest of the citizens towards electoral processes and encouraging
their participation in the shaping of the civil agenda, at the same
time raising the accountability of the political parties before
the electorate.

The “Protection of Rights without Borders NGO suggests legal consulting
in the election period. It will try to strengthen the legal mechanisms
of control of electoral processes.

THE LAST REFUGE OF LEADERS
HAKOB BADALYAN

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 15:15:51 – 11/04/2012

The April 11 meeting of the joint election monitoring headquarters
had some unexpected developments. The vice president of Heritage
Party Ruben Hakobyan proposed that the agreement on constituting the
headquarters be signed by the leaders of the parties, as well as create
a commission to deal with election bribes in the guise of charity.

Heritage proposal was refused. Vartan Oskanian, Prosperous Armenia,
said he does not think the party leaders should necessarily sign.

Levon Zurabyan, Armenian National Congress, noted that if they
participate in the meeting, it means they are authorized.

This is a little strange since agreements between states are signed
by different officials, such as foreign ministers who are certainly
authorized by their president.

Four political parties are not a state but they have assumed a very
important and useful mission for the state – to monitor the forthcoming
parliamentary elections. For maximum legitimacy and responsibility
of this mission, the signing of the agreement by the party leaders
is logical.

Let the leaders of four parties publicly assume responsibility for
the headquarters, then authorize their delegates to take part in
current activities and discuss the mechanisms of control.

Why do some party leaders refuse to sign the agreement and raise the
status of the headquarters? Do they think that the joint headquarters
is just part of their plan and is not a means of controlling the
legitimacy of the elections? Hence, it is logical that the political
leaders avoid signing the agreement personally to avoid further
responsibility and to be able to maneuver when the party starts making
donations or offering election bribes, or as it usually happens,
enter into a deal or dialogue with the government.

It is especially important for the PAP since this party, besides
the arithmetical difference of government levers, does not differ
from the RPA. In this case, the important thing is Gagik Tsarukyan’s
responsibility for the PAP behavior.

In the meantime, if the leaders do not sign, they will always have the
option of referring to the party’s representative who allegedly signed
the covenant without discussing it with the party and its leader.

For instance, when Vartan Oskanian stated that the coalition is
something artificial, Prosperous Armenia to which he belongs stated
that he had expressed his personal opinion as a political expert. So
there is no confidence that tomorrow the parties will not make
similar statements that Oskanian, for example, signed the covenant
as an individual.

Or, for example, the leader of the Armenian National Congress Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, speaking about their cooperation with the Prosperous
Armenia, noted that it is not the Congress’ opinion but his own. Now
it is interesting to know what Levon Zurabyan presents, Ter-Petrosyan’s
personal opinion or the Congress’ official position.

It will open the arena for the political forces to maneuver, so the
Heritage proposal is quite logical and proceeds from the logic of
the most important mission to make sure that the activities of the
headquarters are supported by strong guarantees later not to avoid
responsibility easily.

WILL SARGSYAN SIGN LAW ON STATE OF EMERGENCY?
Zhanna Alexanyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 17:28:40 – 11/04/2012

Yesterday the Army in Reality Initiative organized a discussion on the
draft law on the legal framework of the state of emergency. The law
was adopted by the National Assembly and presented to the president
who will sign the law after which the law will enter into force.

The speakers pinpointed that the law is unconstitutional and listed all
the ensuing dangers and consequences, trying to draw Serzh Sargsyan’s
attention to them and stop him from signing the law.

Legal counselor Vahe Grigoryan dwelled on the key argument of the
advocates of the law – the positive opinion of the Committee of Venice.

“This argument voiced at different levels is not true, namely the
Committee of Venice has never considered the essential difference
between martial law and state of emergency, the clear distinction
in the RA Constitution between the martial law and the state of
emergency.”

Vahe Grigoryan uses the word “weird” for the “mania of Armenian
government officials to rush to the Committee of Venice” whenever
an important issue is there, and regardless the opinion, it is said
to be positive. In the meantime, the lawyer says, only one body is
competent to judge constitutionality. It is the Constitutional Court,
and it would be good to know the opinion of the Committee of Venice
on this issue, the advocate said, noting that the Committee of Venice
expressed concern about some points which were, however, ignored by
the advocates of the law.

The next important issue brought up by the lawyer is the responsibility
to participate in the defense of the Republic of Armenia which
was not discussed by the Committee of Venice and the Armenian
parliament. Invoking Article 46 of the Constitution which states the
responsibility of every citizen to participate in the defense of the
homeland, Vahe Grigoryan says the National Assembly thinks defense
involves the deployment of a conscript inside the country which
leads to the repressive idea of internal enemy. “A soldier aged 18
is drafted to protect his homeland but is deployed against his own
parents. We already have such experience,” he says.

The human rights activist Artak Zeinalyan believes that the law
is adopted for one purpose, to use it to hold on to usurped power
through violence.

Richard Giragossian, chairman of the Center for Regional Studies,
presented an analysis of the law and the international best practices
noting that the law was adopted hastily, immediately prior to the
parliamentary elections and a year before the presidential elections,
arousing doubts.

Karen Hakobyan, head of the department of legislative analysis and
improvement of the Ministry of Justice, tried to argue with the
opponents of the law, reading the opinion of the minister of justice.

Vahe Grigoryan asked him which provision of the Constitution empowers
the president to deploy the armed forces in a state of emergency. “I
do not remember the exact article,” said the head of the MoJ department
of analysis and improvement of legislation.

Lieutenant colonel Varuzhan Avetisyan, lawyer, says not only is the
law unconstitutional but also it is a shame that this discussion
takes place at all because the overall power of the army has been
reduced because the army has become a Praetorian Guard.

Every state has enough police resource to protect constitutional order,
and if this force is not sufficient, it is a sign of systemic crisis,
he says. It indicates that the representative of the government lacks
legitimacy if there is a need to deploy additional forces to support
the police force. He hopes that the president of Armenia will not
sign the law and will have good sense to draw conclusions.

As to the text of the law, Varuzhan Avetisyan thinks it is badly
written, poorly structured, contains a lot of linguistic and
logical contradictions and errors, is an example of professional
irresponsibility, he says.